The spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces is set to address the French Parliament for the first time in the coming weeks.
Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis will appear before the parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee in Paris to clarify the IDF's response to riots on the Israel-Gaza Strip border after lawmakers criticized Israel for its actions there in recent weeks.
Foreign Affairs Committee Deputy Chairman and French Jewish MP Meyer Habib came up with the idea of inviting Manelis to address the forum following the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which was also attended by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
According to Habib, although the committee could have focused its attention on any pressing international matter, four out of the six speeches by faction spokespersons "focused solely on Gaza and the slander of Israel."
Habib, along with fellow parliamentarian Claude Goasguen, also demanded the chairman of France's ruling En Marche! (In Motion!) Party, Christophe Castaner, allow him to respond to allegations by members of the ruling party against Israel.
"It is permissible to criticize Israel, but the obsession is reminiscent of the speeches of the radical Left," Habib said.
